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RELIEF FOR GALLSTONE
SUFFERERS
Article by herbalist
Dave
Hawkins, MH, CNC
The most common illness
affecting the gallbladder is gallstones. It
is estimated that roughly 20 million Americans
are affected, mostly women and ethnic
groups. Predisposing factors
include aging, obesity, family history, pregnancy,
estrogen use, and eating a highly refined Western
diet. There are over 500,000 gallstone
surgeries performed annually
in the
United States
alone.
This article will look into the
causative factors and how gallstones can be prevented.
What is the
purpose of the gallbladder and how does it
perform its functions? Many of us do not really know
how important the gall bladder is or even where it is
located. Bile is a
substance produced in the liver from
cholesterol, minerals, and phospholipids (fats
containing phosphorous) that serves two functions: (1)
Making dietary fats more digestible and (2) excreting
cholesterol and other metabolic byproducts from the
body. Once bile is sent
to the gallbladder, it becomes concentrated
and stored until needed.
That need arises
whenever we eat any food containing fats or oils. We
all know that fat and water do not mix well; and the
makeup of our systems consists of fats that are large
molecules and our blood stream that is mostly water.
Bile is secreted along with other
enzymes to help breakdown the dietary fats
so that they can be absorbed in the intestines.
Most gallstones
are comprised of cholesterol and the element calcium,
known as a calcium oxalate. Stone formation
has a lot to do with diet, which we will
review in a few moments. Stone formation
happens when the bile acids are heavily laden with
cholesterol; which when combined with
calcium, forms the stones. This happens especially if
bile flow is impaired or restricted. Most people are
without symptoms until an acute flair-up that can
include the following: Pain or tenderness on the right
side of the body, gas and bloating, nausea and vomiting
of bile. Symptomatic
The most common
remedy for painful gallstones is the removal of the
gallbladder. There are three
other non-surgical options available to the
person, but most doctors do not recommend
them. It also depends on the severity of
the situations as to which treatment protocol is
recommended. The three other therapies are:
Bile Acid Therapy
involves the oral administration of
ursodiol a specific type of
acid. The length of time ranges from 6 months to years
with varied success rates.
Contact Solvent Therapy involves
pumping a solvent directly into the gallbladder to
dissolve stones. It takes usually one session, but is
wrought with side effects.
Lithotripsy
uses high energy, ultrasound shockwaves to
break up stones so they can exit the gallbladder
easily.
Just remember
that none of these therapies address the underlying
causes of gallstones.
So what can a person do
to reduce the risk of developing gallstones?
Let’s begin
with fat modifications. There are many
studies linking dietary fat to the formation of
gallstones. Specifically, saturated and
hydrogenated fats are the culprits. This
includes margarine and high processed vegetable oils
used in snack foods and fast foods. Animal products
high in fat are also implicated in the role of how
dietary fats are absorbed by the body. The best oils
for ingestion would be olive oil, flax oil, sesame, and
high oleic safflower oil. I wrote some time back about
how to judge the quality of oil and that is available
as a handout. Highly processed oils are very difficult
for the body to digest; and once eliminated, many
gallstone suffers find some relief. The healthy oils
mentioned usually do not cause problems, but one should
use them with caution at first.
Dietary fiber is next
since dietary fiber appears to deter the
synthesis and absorption of secondary bile acids.
Fiber is believed to help carry these bile
acids out of the body quicker. Food
allergies have been implicated in gallbladder
symptoms. These foods would
include, eggs, pork, onions, milk, coffee,
poultry, nuts and seeds. Excessive sugar
consumption may also pose a risk factor in
gallstone development. Because sugar consumption
triggers insulin release by the pancreas, it also
increases cholesterol synthesis by the liver.
Excessive sugar consumption also is related to elevated
triglycerides (a fat storage molecule) which are
associated with cholesterol saturations. Another idea
about sugar is that due to its acidity factors, it
causes the leeching of calcium from the bones as a way
to balance this acidity problem. Since stones are made
up mostly of calcium oxalates and cholesterol, it makes
sense.
A supplement regime for
the prevention of gallstones would include:
Antioxidants have been shown to
help reduce stones. Subjects of research
have been known to have lower levels of Vitamin E,
manganese, and the amino acid
methionine. A weaker association was found for
the antioxidants beta-carotene, selenium, Vitamin C and
zinc. Most antioxidants have beneficial effects on the
liver, which we know produces bile.
Fiber supplements from fruit in the form of pectin,
flax seed meal, psyllium
husk, guar gums, and oat bran are good sources to add
as well as bean fiber.
Lecithin
is a natural component of fatty foods. It
is found in numerous foods. It is manufactured from
soybeans and is available in liquid or capsules.
Lecithin is used in the food industry as an emulsifier.
This means it has the ability to blend oils and water
together. It helps the gallbladder to manage bile
better.
Herbal remedies have been around for a long time
when it comes to gallstones and relieving
some of the symptoms. The use of ginger is
helpful as an anti-inflammatory as well as
peppermint. European studies using enteric-coated
peppermint oil have found it to help in an acute
gallbladder attack. Menthol is
classified as a triterpene,
and terpenes have
been shown to keep cholesterol crystals from forming
in bile and may even help dissolve them.
Traditionally, herbs
classified as cholerectics
and cholagogues were used
to either increase the production of bile or the flow
of bile. Herbs like barberry, burdock root, dandelion
root, globe artichoke, goldenseal, greater celandine,
Oregon grape root, and milk thistle would be included
in these classifications.
Of course
preventing gallstones makes more sense then waiting for
something to happen. There are many ways to
deal with gallbladder problems. Be sure to consult with
your healthcare practitioner for advice
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